A STICK-WIELDING man who smashed open a dad’s head after mistaking him for someone else has been conditionally discharged.

Nathan Bradley had been at home with his wife and daughter on April 5 this year when he decided to pop to the Chinese takeaway in Bridge Street, Troedyrhiw.

It was as he was waiting for his order that Roger Heath stormed into the shop and angrily confronted Mr Bradley, accusing him of being the man he had seen fiddling with his car earlier that night.

David Pugh, prosecuting at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court where 57-year-old Heath admitted unlawful wounding and having an offensive weapon, said Heath had seen a man interfering with his car outside his remote home, a smallholding at King’s Hill, Troedyrhiw.

He had initially given chase but due to health problems had to stop, instead getting into his car and searching the area.

As he drove past the takeaway he noticed Mr Bradley inside.

“The defendant charged towards him,” said Mr Pugh.

Heath was carrying a stick and confronted Mr Bradley, wrongly accusing him of being the man he was looking for, despite protestations he had got it wrong.

“He lunged at him and struck him on the head with a wooden stick,” said Mr Pugh.

Mr Bradley put his arm up to fend off further blows before Heath left and Mr Bradley ended up at Prince Charles Hospital, having the cut to his head glued.

John Ryan, defending, said friends and colleagues had described Heath as a caring, reliable and courteous man, who spent his time looking after disabled animals.

“One said that he had never seen him lose his cool,” said Mr Ryan.

“On this night he genuinely believed he had found the male responsible.”

Judge Hugh Davies QC said Heath’s crime had been an “aberration”.

“There was a confused and confusing exchange between the two of you,” he said.